I want to Do More, EDM!

[Garyhlucas]

It suddenly occurred to me that the high speed pulse output of the Do-More along with the ability to drive an axis with the BRX means that I might have the makings of a very nice EDM machine for the Ifactory (Vertical Mill, Horizontal Mill, Vertical Lathe, Horizontal lathe, 3D printer, the machine you really want).  It would be useful for doing internal shapes you can't cut with a mill like keyslots, and very useful for removing broken taps and such. It would also allow drilling of tungsten carbide too.

So this is next on my list of stuff to try. Do More!

[BobO]

I'm not entirely sure I understand what I read, but I like it! Let us know how it goes.

[Evilbeard]

It suddenly occurred to me that the high speed pulse output of the Do-More along with the ability to drive an axis with the BRX means that I might have the makings of a very nice EDM machine for the Ifactory (Vertical Mill, Horizontal Mill, Vertical Lathe, Horizontal lathe, 3D printer, the machine you really want).  It would be useful for doing internal shapes you can't cut with a mill like keyslots, and very useful for removing broken taps and such. It would also allow drilling of tungsten carbide too.

So this is next on my list of stuff to try. Do More!

I understand the ease of driving the axis, but are you just going to do the crude rectifier/capacitor/light bulb EDM, of do you have something more elegant?

[Garyhlucas]

Hoping to use a pulse and a flushing motion up and down as it advances.

[plcnut]

I'm not entirely sure I understand what I read, but I like it! Let us know how it goes.

I am pretty sure he means Electronic Dance Music. He is wanting to get set up to make dance music with a Do-more!


Here is a link: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electrical_discharge_machining

[Garyhlucas]

You touch the electrode while leaning on the metal table and you get your first lesson for free!

[BobO]

You touch the electrode while leaning on the metal table and you get your first lesson for free!

So when you do so, is it a material removal process or an additive process? Or maybe just a language lesson: How to speak like a sailor in 1 easy lesson!

[ADC Product Engineer]

It is a subtractive process.  It is how they make those cool molds that produce your BRX plastic.

[BobO]

It is a subtractive process.  It is how they make those cool molds that produce your BRX plastic.

Yeah. It was failed attempt at a funny about when he zapped himself with the electrode.

[Controls Guy]

It is a subtractive process.  It is how they make those cool molds that produce your BRX plastic.

Don't feel bad, PE.  Literal guy that I am, I also responded, till I followed back what BobO was responding too and realized he was kidding.

[Garyhlucas]

My dad was an electrician and quite the joker.  At one place he worked he had a big box of fuses that no one knew if they were could or bad. So he removed a power panel cover and touched each fuse to the buss to feel for a little tingle that says it is good.  His boss saw him doing it and he convinced him to try it.  He then gave him 3 bad fuses in a row.  On the fourth he gave him one from the good box. When he touched it to the bus with confidence his arm jerked and he threw it across the room.  Dad said "Don't throw those away, they are the good ones!"

Dad taught me how to feel 120 volt current too.  One a friend asked me to troubleshoot some wiring in an old house he bought.  Dad and I are feeling the ends of the wires tracing out the hot wires and the guy thought we were crazy.  One time we measured everyone's skin resistance with an ohmmeter. Dad and I had very high resistance so we both felt just a little tingle.  Our truck mechanic claimed he could feel 12vdc.  His skin resistance was so low it was completely believable.

Anyway EDM is electrical discharge machining where a spark erodes the conductive material away.  So it can cut hardened steel, tungsten carbide, even PCD diamond. you can cut shapes that are impossible to make any other way like a star shaped hole that doesn't go all the way through.  A big use for small shops is burning out broken taps which can be very difficult to remove.  I have a couple of those to do right now.

[Controls Guy]

I once got a guy to hold the leads from a high reduction DC PM gearmotor while I cranked the output shaft.  He came up with this BS about it shocking him, which obviously couldn't be right.  I almost got him to hold them again! 

[ADC Product Engineer]

It is a subtractive process.  It is how they make those cool molds that produce your BRX plastic.

Don't feel bad, PE.  Literal guy that I am, I also responded, till I followed back what BobO was responding too and realized he was kidding.

Oh, I know BobO knows what it is.  I was just poking at him for being too literal in his joke.   

Bob and I have known each other for a fairly long while.  I won't say how long though.

[BobO]

Don't feel bad, PE.  Literal guy that I am, I also responded, till I followed back what BobO was responding too and realized he was kidding.

Oh, I know BobO knows what it is.  I was just poking at him for being too literal in his joke.   

Bob and I have known each other for a fairly long while.  I won't say how long though.

My wife is usually helpful in these things, pointing out (after it's too late to be helpful) that people don't know I'm joking.

[jwbaker3]

My wife says "Ain't funny McGee" from the old radio show Fibber McGee and Molly. At least she gets it (most of the time). Many years ago I started my career as a tool and die apprentice. We had two types of EDM wire and die, they were better than sliced bread for making the complex dies. Much quicker than hand. One of our vendors that made some dies for our plant also made the inserts for joint replacements with their EDM. I am sure there are much cooler stuff now, I've been training electrons for years now.

JW